No, not getting a new wife but she is making some pretty cool changes.

When we first started dating she had a mountain bike that was shoddy and she only rode it in the mountains. Since then I've become pretty passionate about bikes and carlite living. In the past years she has made some big changes that have culminated recently:

1) I got her a Trek1000 that she LOVED in comparison to her shoddy mtb so she started riding more often to more places.

2) Over time she uses the bike for more and more errands under 5 miles and for going to friend's houses, etc..

3) I've bugged her about using a rack and panniers but she wasn't hip to it.

4) Last weekend I picked up a rack for two bones at a swap meet and said "since we have RAGBRAI in a couple weeks you may want to try this out for carrying your extra stuff". She succumbed and then used my new pannier to go teach yoga yesterday. MAN WAS SHE PSYCHED! She is off at class right now again with the pannier and loving the fact that she can carry a lot of stuff off of her back and still move fairly fast.

5) Next step is her own set of panniers and getting her to ride in the winter.

So close...oh so close to car free. :)

Everyone changes as they live. The spouse you stay with is not the spouse you married. It's great that you two seem to be growing together, not apart. Keep it up.

This is encouraging to read. It's good that you posted it. Cheers.

Sweet - keep it up.
My wife and I are in a similar situation. she's still riding the (semi-crappy) mtb. I'm looking into somthing more comfy & upright for her.
Cheers

Sweet - keep it up.
My wife and I are in a similar situation. she's still riding the (semi-crappy) mtb. I'm looking into somthing more comfy & upright for her.
Cheers

acroy,
Depending on your terrain, maybe start her out with a ladies version of something like a Raleigh (or any other decent brand) 3 speed. Women can handle internal gears with great ease. The ladies frame makes life easier for them. My wife has a very nice GT Slipstream 21 speed bike. But her favorite to grab and go is her 1971 Raleigh Colt ladies frame 3 speed with the coaster brake.

Aaron:)

acroy,
Depending on your terrain, maybe start her out with a ladies version of something like a Raleigh (or any other decent brand) 3 speed. Women can handle internal gears with great ease. The ladies frame makes life easier for them. My wife has a very nice GT Slipstream 21 speed bike. But her favorite to grab and go is her 1971 Raleigh Colt ladies frame 3 speed with the coaster brake.

Aaron:)

I'm on the lookout for an old English 3 speed or something similar for my wife, too. She saw a 7 speed for $30 out at the flea market yesterday, but was afraid to get it since I wasn't there to check it out.

My partner and I live in a place that really isn't terribly hilly, but she rides much more on her 18-speed than she did on her old 3-speed, which didn't have a good low gear for the uphills. The hills weren't particularly steep. But the 3-speed was heavy like most old 3-speeds are, and it was geared too high for a person who's was not in the best of shape and doesn't like to stand up on the pedals.

Most old 3-speeds just were not geared right unless you have no uphills or want to mash on the pedals.

My partner and I live in a place that really isn't terribly hilly, but she rides much more on her 18-speed than she did on her old 3-speed, which didn't have a good low gear for the uphills. The hills weren't particularly steep. But the 3-speed was heavy like most old 3-speeds are, and it was geared too high for a person who's was not in the best of shape and doesn't like to stand up on the pedals.

Most old 3-speeds just were not geared right unless you have no uphills or want to mash on the pedals.

I always forget about that aspect...change the rear cog for a 22t asap and they become much more ridable. I do it automatically without thinking. I am a fairly strong rider and my Raleigh Superbe came with a 17t on it. It now has a 20 and as soon as my 22t gets here it goes on. I usually keep a few spares around just in case. When touring on the 3speed I keep a spare 22t in the saddle bag. And quite often carry a 20 and the 17t to swap in if I get a good day of flats and tail winds. It only takes a few minutes top to swap a cog and basically no tools other than the wheel wrench unless you need to shorten or lengthen the chain. I have never understood why they came from the factory geared so high.

Aaron:)